(A lot of the people around my area haven’t been coming to our local store, due to the competition of a well-known chain store having been built about two years earlier. A young teen customer comes into the store. The only other people here are the owner, and a customer who has been a regular for quite some time.)

Me: “Hello! How may I help you today?”

(The teen customer is obviously quite shy, perhaps shopping alone for the first time.)

Teen Customer: “Uh… I was looking for a specific model? It’s a Squier, if I remember…”

(Before I can ask the teen customer which model he wants, the regular scoffs.)

Regular Customer: “Really, kid? You broke or something? Can you not afford a real instrument? How sad that these kids can only get the cheap stuff.”

(The teen customer obviously takes this to heart. He frowns and turns to leave the store. Before he leaves, the owner of the shop places his hand on his shoulder. He then glares at the regular.)

Owner: “Wow, really, [Regular Customer]? That’s how you’re going to treat one of my customers? Listen, I know you’ve been coming here for over 20 years now, but the day I let you speak to anyone who steps into this store the way you just did, is the day hell freezes over! So what if he wants one of the cheaper models? We’ve all got to start somewhere; let the kid choose what he wants! Being a regular does not make you king of my store!”

Regular Customer: “What are you going to do about it, kick me out? Like you’d ever do that!”

(Without even a moment of hesitation, my boss walks over to the regular and escorts him out. The teen customer looks over at me, his jaw drops.)

Teen Customer: “Did that really just happen?”

Me: “I have no idea, little dude.”

(About a minute later, the owner strolls back in casually, and smiles at the teen customer.)

Owner: “Now, what can I get for ya’, kiddo?”

(The teen customer’s face lights up as he excitedly informs us of the exact model he wants. He tells us that he has saved up all the money that he’s gotten for doing chores around the house for over a year, just to buy the guitar. My boss throws in some strings and picks for the kid too! I love this job, and my boss!)